A big art museum with sensory kits (noise-reducing headphones, fidgets and sunglasses) at Sharf Visitor Center, a Sensory Friendly Map of louder and quieter galleries, social narratives, and Beyond the Spectrum classes for autistic kids and teens (free, with tickets reserved online in advance).
Sensory supports. Sensory kits, Sensory Friendly Map, Beyond the Spectrum.
Hours
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Thursday and Friday 10 am to 10 pm; closed Tuesday. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed New Year's Day, Patriots' Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Closes early at 5 pm on Friday, November 6.
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 (Huntington Avenue Entrance; the Linde Family Wing Entrance on Museum Road is for visitors who need a level entrance)
“Sensory kits that include noise-reducing headphones, fidgets, and sunglasses are available on request at Sharf Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis.”
“Some spaces in the Museum are more sensory friendly than others. Download this map (PDF, 1.3 MB) or pick one up in Sharf Visitor Center to help guide your visit and find places that tend to be less crowded, noisy, or bright.”
“Beyond the Spectrum is a specially designed program for children and teens on the autism spectrum and their families.”
Noise-reducing headphones are also at the Linde Family Wing ticket desk, first-come, first-served. Free folding gallery stools are at Sharf Visitor Center.
The museum names the Calderwood Courtyard (weather permitting) and the Shapiro Family Courtyard as break areas. The Calderwood Courtyard is outdoors and open April through October, weather permitting. The Sensory Friendly Map marks the Shapiro Family Courtyard as louder or more crowded.
Special exhibition spaces rotate often and have varying sensory experiences, such as the Gund Gallery (LG31), the Torf Gallery (184) and Gallery 168. Sharf Visitor Center has the most up-to-date information on the day.
The museum has social narratives for kids and families and for teens and adults. The kids' version covers tickets, coat check, staff badges, the beeping sound near art and eating in the Garden Cafeteria.
Beyond the Spectrum classes meet on select Saturdays, once a month for each age group. Questions: access@mfa.org.
Level 1: Sharf Visitor Center, the Rotunda, Ticketing, the Shapiro Family Courtyard, New American Café and Taste (marked as louder or more crowded spaces on the Sensory Friendly Map)not stated
Level 1 galleries: 105, 109, 110, 113 and 113A, Art of the Americas galleries 126, 127, 128, 132, 133, 134, 135 and 136, and Gallery 168 in the Linde Family Wing (marked as louder or more crowded on the map)not stated
Level 2 galleries 252, 253, 255, 265 and 268; Level 3 Gallery 326; the Garden Cafeteria (marked as louder or more crowded on the map)not stated
Quieter, in the museum's words
Level 1: Art of Asia galleries 177 and 179, and galleries 121, 121A, 121B, 121C, 121D, 137, 138, 138A and 138Bquiet zone
Level 3: galleries 327, 328, 332, 334, 335 and 336; Lower Ground: galleries LG27, LG28, LG32, LG33, LG34, LG35 and LG36quiet zone
Admission: adults $30, youths 7 to 17 $14, youths 0 to 6 free; all visitors need a ticket. Special exhibitions need their own ticket. Personal care attendants are admitted free, and the MFA offers complimentary admission to a caregiver accompanying a visitor with a disability.
Free and low-cost days, including Open House days for Massachusetts residents and $5 Third Thursdays after 5 pm, are listed on the museum's free and discounted admission page.
Parking: the Huntington Lot, the Fenway Lot and the Museum Road Garage, all entered from Museum Road. Nonmembers pay $12 for 1 hour or less, up to $48 for 6 hours or more; evenings after 5:30 pm are $20. Spots may sell out during busy periods. All parking facilities have handicap spaces.
Bags larger than 11 x 15 inches are checked in the Coat Room, unless they hold needed medical, nursing or baby-care equipment, tagged at arrival. The museum's pages differ on backpacks: one says they aren't permitted, another says to carry them as a handbag or on your front. Coat check is free.
Outside food and drink aren't permitted, with exceptions for medical or religious needs. Water fountains are available.
Two all-gender single-occupancy restrooms with changing tables are on Level G below Sharf Visitor Center. All restrooms have automatic hand dryers except those near the Gund galleries on the Lower Ground floor.
Service dogs are welcome; emotional support and comfort animals are not permitted.
